Valerian Valeriana officinalis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vah-ler-ee-AH-nah oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss
- Description
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Valerian is easily grown in average garden soils in full to part sun. Its preference is full sun, with consistently moist conditions, and soil consisting of fertile loam but can adapt to less ideal circumstances. It can be grown in part shade, however, the stems may flop. The more shade, the more this condition will increase.
It is a non-native herb that has escaped cultivation and has spread primarily in the northern US as it prefers cooler weather and abundant rainfall. It spreads by rhizomes and seeds and can be weedy. It is listed as a noxious weed in Connecticut and Wisconsin.
It is grown medicinally for the sedative effects of the drug valerian that is obtained from the roots. Other uses are in foods, perfumes and teas. An oil obtained from the leaves and root is used as a flavoring in ice cream, condiments and baked goods.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Can become weedy and invasive. Its presence in the wild may displace native plants.
When used as a medicinal, prolonged use can lead to addiction. Adverse effects can include headaches, nausea, agitation, heart palpitations, and insomnia.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Rock and Crevice Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Valeriana
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia
- Distribution:
- Northern USA and Canada
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant. Attracts bees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Edibility:
- Roots for flavoring and as a tranquilizing herbal medicine
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Winged seeds are spread by the wind
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant, white or pale pink flowers that are arranged in umbels 2-5 inches across. Each flower measures 0.2 in. and blooms June through August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Forms a clump of basal foliage from which a stem arises with pairs of leaves occurring primarily in the lower 1/2 of the stem. These leaves are odd-pinate with 4-9 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one. Leaves are up to 8 inches long with 4-9 pairs of deep lobes and a terminal lobe. The leaflets are linear with a smooth upper green surface and paler undersurface that is either smooth or slightly hairy. The leaves become aromatic when bruised.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The tall, slender, sparsely-leaved stems are generally pubescent, especially at the nodes and hollow.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Weedy
